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Own or drive this car?

4.7 V8 5dr

Peter Morris
Date:
13/06/2005

Overall verdict

4
out of 5 stars

What's it like to drive

4
out of 5 stars

Running costs

2
out of 5 stars

Quality, practicality and equipment

5
out of 5 stars

My car

OK, I have to make a confession here. My 18 months experience of this awesome vehicle was courtesy of it being supplied as a company car in the Middle East. Consequently, running costs were not an issue as fuel was paid for - plus, petrol is cheaper than water.

However, I've rated running costs for the UK. The "beast", as it was known, drinks fuel like a dehydrated elephant. It had two tanks and needed both to keep me going for more than 3 days without a fill-up.

However, this brand new beast was delivered to my office for my exclusive use and it was indeed a happy day. Driving back to my accommodation after work was totally relaxing and confidence building, despite the fact that I felt I had somehow offended the indigenous population and they were all trying to force me off the road.

Then I got to the hotel car park. 'It will never fit', I said out loud and my first attempt to park that evening entertained a host of hotel workers for a while. But, after two days I got so used to its sheer bulk and found it so easy to park that I still have trouble parking a saloon back in Blighty.

The Amazon never, ever, let me down. Whether it be on or off-road it just kept on plugging. Tarmac, sand, water, rocks, nothing stopped it.

It is, without doubt, a positively luxurious vehicle to be in and to drive. If I won the Lottery I would go and buy one immediately. I actually prefer it to the Range Rover with regard to value for money for what you get.